Headlinin’: NCAA’s all-time all-purpose king cops to embezzlement

•Does the probation prohibit setting opposing defenses on fire? Tulsa senior Damaris Johnson, the NCAA's career leader in all-purpose yards as a rusher, receiver and return man, pleaded guilty to felony embezzlement along with his girlfriend, both of whom received a one-year deferred sentence. Johnson and his girlfriend, Chamon Jones, were charged days before the start of the season for allegedly using Jones' debit card on two different occasions to ring up more than $2,600 worth of merchandise at a Macy's department store where she worked for a little over $13.

Johnson and Jones must each complete 80 hours of community service, pay $500 to the court fund and $250 to the victims compensation fund, but will not serve jail time and will have charges dropped after completing a one-year probation. Johnson remains indefinitely suspended from the team, but the apparent settlement of his legal ordeal "might open the door for him next year," according to coach Bill Blankenship. "Honestly, it's the first I've heard about it," Blankenship told the Tulsa World. "I can't foresee anything changing this season." [Tulsa World]

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•LaMichael in limbo. Oregon has remained conspicuously mum on the status of star tailback LaMichael James, and James himself told reporters Tuesday — even while wearing a sling containing the arm he injured in gruesome fashion during last Thursday's win over Cal — that he's still hoping to play Saturday against Arizona State. Quarterback Darron Thomas, however, didn't sound so optimistic: "[We're] practicing, getting ready, trying to push a little harder, knowing we're going to be without LaMichael," Thomas said after Wednesday's practice. "We've got Kenjon [Barner] in the backfield with me. He is a step behind LaMike, doing the same things. We've got Tra Carson doing well for us. I can't wait to see him play. And De'Anthony [Thomas], everybody knows about De'Anthony. The running backs just have to hold their own and do it for LaMichael." [The Oregonian]

•Let the games begin. The annual round of musical chairs in college coaching is already underway at Florida Atlantic, where athletic director Craig Angelos personally named Mike Leach, Randy Shannon and Jim Leavitt as likely targets to replace retiring FAU coach Howard Schnellenberger after the season. "A lot of times when you give people a second chance they are better than the first time," Angelos said. "They've learned from mistakes. They're hungrier. That was the case with our basketball coach Mike Jarvis, and he won the conference here after three years."

The sentiment is not necessarily reciprocated. "A close associate" told the Herald Shannon "prefers a higher-profile job," specifically the newly vacant head-coaching gig at Arizona, though Leach — a local resident in Key West since being fired at Texas Tech — might be more receptive. "I do plan to coach," Leach said. "Craig [Angelos] is a great man and FAU is a great program. Anything negative that happens to Miami [as a result of an ongoing NCAA investigation] can only help FAU and FIU." [Miami Herald]